"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Chapter 250 – The Final Reveal: Secrets of the Laboratories (Part Two: Unraveling the Truth)

The Dark Laboratory

Seraphis stepped cautiously through the dimly lit laboratory, her heart racing. The air was thick with the scent of decay and something metallic. Broken equipment lay scattered across the floor, evidence of hasty experiments and failed attempts. The room was silent, almost too silent, as though the laboratory itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to unfold.

The walls were lined with rows of shelves, covered with vials of strange substances, books that had seen better days, and a few ancient scrolls. This place felt abandoned, as though no one had dared to come here in years. But Seraphis knew better. The secrets held within these walls were far from forgotten.

Her eyes quickly scanned the room, taking in every detail. At the far end of the laboratory stood an old wooden desk, covered with stacks of papers, a few broken instruments, and strange diagrams. It was there that she hoped to find the answers—the last pieces of the puzzle that had been plaguing her for so long.

The Search Begins

Seraphis moved toward the desk, her boots making no sound on the cold stone floor. She could feel the weight of the past pressing in on her, the countless experiments that had taken place here, the lives that had been twisted and destroyed in the name of science. She had to find the truth. She had to find the man responsible.

Her fingers hovered over the papers, each one filled with cryptic notes and unfamiliar symbols. Her brow furrowed as she sifted through them, but nothing seemed to stand out—until she found it.

A single sheet of parchment, slightly crumpled but intact. The title on the top caught her eye: "Project Sleepwalker." Her breath caught in her throat. This was it. This was what she had been searching for.

The Project’s Origins

She read the first few lines, her eyes scanning the text quickly. The document described the beginnings of the project—how a man named Dr. Eryx Thorne had started his work, seeking immortality through the enhancement of the human body. Thorne had believed that by manipulating the human mind and body, he could create an army of undying soldiers—beings who would serve him for eternity.

The paper detailed how Thorne had used a combination of alchemy and dark magic to achieve his goal, binding the subjects' wills to his own through a mixture of potions, rituals, and unholy rites. The sleepers were born from these experiments—humans altered beyond recognition, their minds trapped in a state of suspended animation, ready to be awakened at a moment’s notice.

Seraphis felt her stomach twist as she read on. The idea of people being turned into mere puppets, controlled and manipulated against their will, was abhorrent. But what truly struck her was Thorne’s goal—he wanted to create an army, an unstoppable force that would answer to no one but him.

A Dark Vision

Thorne’s vision had no limits. He sought to bend the laws of nature, to forge a new race of beings who would serve him without question. He believed that by stripping away the weaknesses of the human mind, he could craft the perfect soldiers—ones who would be immune to fear, doubt, and hesitation.

The document went on to explain how the sleepers were created. They were subjected to a variety of experiments designed to break their minds and reshape their very essence. Thorne had used a combination of powerful spells and alchemical concoctions to put them into a deep, trance-like sleep, their bodies and minds controlled by his will alone.

But it wasn’t just about control. Thorne had pushed the boundaries of science, creating a being capable of harnessing raw power and enhancing it. These sleepers were designed to be stronger, faster, and more lethal than any human alive. They were weapons, born to fight and die at their master's command.

The Scientist’s Name

The paper continued with a chilling revelation: Dr. Eryx Thorne had not only created the sleepers, but he had also begun a new project. One that would make the sleepers even more dangerous. Project Nightshade—a new breed of sleeper, one who would not only be controlled but also possess the ability to think, strategize, and adapt.

The thought sent a shiver down Seraphis' spine. A sleeper that could think for itself? It was a terrifying prospect. Thorne was playing god, and the consequences could be catastrophic.

As Seraphis continued reading, she found more details about Project Nightshade. The project had begun with a prototype—someone who was intended to be the perfect sleeper. But Thorne had failed to control this individual. The sleeper had broken free of his control, showing a glimpse of true independence. It had nearly escaped but had been recaptured before it could flee.

The Prototype

The more Seraphis read, the more disturbed she became. The prototype was described in the journal as a sleeper who had the potential to surpass all others. Unlike the others, this one was more than just a mindless soldier. It was capable of feeling emotions, making decisions, and even questioning orders.

Seraphis could feel her pulse quicken as she read the final entries about the prototype. Thorne had never intended for this sleeper to escape. But it had, for a brief moment, tasted freedom. And that had made it more dangerous than anything Thorne had ever created before.

The prototype was still alive, hidden away in a secret location, according to the journal. Thorne had been obsessed with capturing it once more, believing it to be the key to perfecting his creation. If it had managed to escape once, it could do so again. And if that happened, the entire project would be exposed.

The Vault

One of the most disturbing parts of the journal was the mention of Eryx’s Vault. According to the notes, it was a secret facility where Thorne stored the most dangerous and sensitive information about the sleepers. It was here that he had conducted his most brutal experiments, and it was also where he had kept the prototype.

The vault was hidden beneath layers of protection—both magical and physical. No one had ever managed to break into it, not even Thorne's most trusted subjects. But Seraphis knew that this was where the answers lay. If she could find the vault, she could uncover the full extent of Thorne's experiments.

The Serum of Awakening

Among the papers, Seraphis found something that made her blood run cold: a vial of glowing blue liquid. The label on the vial read: “Serum of Awakening.” This was the final piece of the puzzle.

The serum was what Thorne had used to awaken the sleepers, bringing them back from their dormant state and turning them into fully functional soldiers. It was the key to controlling them, to making them follow his every command. The vial itself seemed to pulse with an eerie energy, as though it was alive.

Seraphis picked it up carefully, the weight of it heavy in her hands. This vial represented everything Thorne had done—the lives he had stolen, the people he had manipulated, and the twisted vision he had created. It was a weapon, one that could turn the sleepers into a real army, an unstoppable force.

The Vault and Beyond

Seraphis turned to leave the laboratory, the vial of serum carefully secured in her bag. There was no time to waste. The map she had found earlier had shown her the locations of other laboratories, each one connected to Thorne’s research. But the vault was still her ultimate goal. She needed to get there before Thorne’s creations could be fully unleashed.

As she made her way to the exit, her mind raced with the possibilities. The vault could hold answers not just about the sleepers, but about Thorne himself. If she could find it, she would be one step closer to ending this nightmare once and for all.

But there was no telling what kind of dangers lay ahead. The vault was well-guarded, both by magic and by Thorne’s creations. It would take everything Seraphis had to break through and uncover the full extent of the horrors Thorne had set in motion.